Ectopic Pregnancy Symptoms and When to Call 911

Articles OnEctopic Pregnancy

In a normal pregnancy, the egg is fertilized in your fallopian tube. It then travels through the tube and lands in the uterus, where it starts growing. But in an ectopic pregnancy, the egg doesn’t make it to your uterus. Usually, it gets stuck in your fallopian tube, either because of a problem with your tube or the egg.

Symptoms

At first you may not have any symptoms of an early ectopic pregnancy. They may seem very similar to a normal pregnancy. You might miss your period and have discomfort in your belly and tenderness in your breasts.

When to Call 911

Ectopic pregnancy can cause a fallopian tube to rupture. If that happens, you could have major pain and severe bleeding, and you would need medical care right away. Here are some possible signs of this:

Pain in your rectum or an intense urge to have a bowel movement could mean you’re bleeding internally.

Pain in your shoulder could also be an emergency. While it might not sound pregnancy-related, if one of your fallopian tubes bursts, blood can pool near your diaphragm and irritate nerves that run to your shoulder.

If your pain is severe, sharp, and sudden, or if you feel lightheaded or dizzy, or if you’ve fainted, call 911 immediately. These are all signs you could be going into shock.